Inside Dock Nine, the air was thick and oppressive, carrying the mingled smell of metal dust and machine oil.
The vast dock resembled a hollowed-out mountain, its vaulted ceiling so high that its edges were almost invisible. In the distance, the lights dissolved into a blurred yellow haze.
An enormous capital warship lay moored at the central berth, its hull still bearing scorch marks from its passage through the Warp. Like a beast that had just weathered a storm, it carried both the weariness and the menace of its journey.
Biberus stood beside the dock's gangway, a Power Scimitar hanging at his waist. The patterns on its scabbard gleamed dimly beneath the lights.
The alternating desert-coloured and black paint on his Power Armour looked especially imposing in the dock's shadows. The Word Bearers' insignia stood beside the old Second Legion's mark on his shoulder plate.
His gaze rested on the dock entrance as he waited for the two guests who would soon arrive.
Behind him, several dozen Space Marines of the 616 Chapter were scattered throughout the dock, checking their equipment and ammunition. Their movements were quiet and practiced, with no idle conversation.
Among them stood a Lucifer Dreadnought, its arms thicker than those of an ordinary Dreadnought, its armour plates covered in overlapping scars.
Those scars were as deep as grooves chiselled into metal, covered by coatings that had long since oxidized and discoloured.
Its weapon arms hung at its sides, but even motionless, the machine radiated an oppressive presence that was impossible to ignore.
Footsteps sounded at the dock entrance.
Cestus and Harald arrived as expected, emerging from the dim passage into the dock's light.
Cestus led the way, the insignia of the Ultramarines adorning his blue Power Armour. His steps were steady, his gaze sweeping over every